1Hospodin řekl Mojžíšovi a Áronovi v egyptské zemi: 2„Tento měsíc bude pro vás začátkem měsíců; bude to pro vás první měsíc v roce. 3Řekněte celému společenství Izraele: Desátého dne tohoto měsíce ať si každý opatří beránka pro rodinu, beránka pro dům. 4Je-li však rodina tak malá, že beránka sníst nestačí, ať si vezme ze sousedství, které je tomu domu nejbližší, tolik osob do počtu, kolik stačí beránka sníst. 5Beránek ať je bez vady, starý jeden rok, sameček. Můžete ho vzít z jehňat nebo kůzlat. 6Uchováte ho až do čtrnáctého dne tohoto měsíce, kdy ho k večeru zabije celé shromážděné společenství Izraele. 7Pak ať vezmou trochu jeho krve a pomažou jí obě veřeje i příčný trám nad nimi v domech, kde ho budou jíst. 8Ať jedí maso tu noc, ať ho jedí pečené na ohni s nekvašenými chleby a hořkými bylinami. 9Nesmíte ho jíst za syrová nebo uvařeného ve vodě, ale jen upečeného v ohni, i hlavu s nožkami a vnitřnostmi. 10Nic z něho nenecháte na ráno. Co by z něho zbylo do rána, spalte v ohni. 11Budete ho pak jíst takto: Mějte přepásaná bedra, obuv na nohou a hůl v ruce a jezte ve spěchu. Neboť je to Hospodinův svátek velikonočního beránka. 12Oné noci projdu egyptskou zemi a pobiji všechno prvorozené v egyptské zemi jak u lidí, tak u dobytka. Nade všemi egyptskými bohy vykonám soud. Já, Hospodin. 13Pro vás však bude krev beránka sloužit jako znamení na domech, v nichž přebýváte. Když uvidím krev, přejdu vás, a tak uniknete ničící ráně, až budu bít egyptskou zemi. 14Tento den si uchováte jako památný a budete ho slavit jako Hospodinův svátek. Budete ho slavit po všechna svá pokolení jako věčné ustanovení. 15Sedm dní budete jíst nekvašené chleby. Už prvního dne odstraníte kvas ze svých domů. Kdokoli by od prvního do sedmého dne jedl z kvašeného těsta, bude vyloučen z Izraele. 16Prvního dne budete mít bohoslužebné shromáždění a také sedmý den budete mít bohoslužebné shromáždění. V těch dnech nesmíte vykonávat žádnou práci kromě té, která je zapotřebí k přípravě jídla. 17Zachovávejte příkaz o nekvašených chlebech, neboť právě v ten den jsem vyvedl vaše zástupy z egyptské země. Ten den budete zachovávat po všechna svá pokolení jako ustanovení věčné. 18Od večera čtrnáctého dne prvního měsíce až do večera jednadvacátého dne toho měsíce budete jíst nekvašené chleby. 19Po sedm dní se nenajde ve vašich domech nic kvašeného. Kdokoli by jedl z kvašeného těsta, bude vyloučen ze společenství Izraele, ať už je to přistěhovalec nebo někdo z vás. 20Nebudete jíst nic kvašeného; ve všech svých příbytcích budete jíst jen nekvašené chleby.“ 21Mojžíš svolal všechny přední muže Izraele a řekl jim: „Jděte si vzít z bravu pro každou rodinu a zabijte velikonočního beránka. 22Vezmete svazek yzopu, namočíte ho do misky s krví a pomažete krví z misky hořejší břevno a obě veřeje. Nikdo z vás nevyjde až do rána z dveří svého domu. 23Hospodin bude procházet, aby bil Egypťany, a když uvidí krev na břevnu a obou veřejích, přejde Hospodin vchod a nedovolí, aby Zhoubce vešel do vašich domů a tam pobíjel. 24Zachovávejte toto nařízení, ať platí jako zákon tobě i tvým synům navěky. 25Zachovávejte tento zvyk, až přijdete do země, kterou vám Hospodin dá podle svého slibu. 26A když se vás zeptají vaše synové: ‚Co znamená tento zvyk?’ - 27řeknete: ‚Je to velikonoční oběť pro Hospodina, který minul domy Izraele v Egyptě. Když pobíjel Egypťany, naše domy ušetřil.’“ A lid padl na kolena a klaněl se. 28Izraelité odešli a poslechli; jednali podle toho, co Hospodin poručil Mojžíšovi a Áronovi. 29Uprostřed nocí Hospodin pobil všechno prvorozené v egyptské zemi. Od prvorozence faraona, který měl usednout na jeho trůn, až po prvorozence vězně, který byl v žaláři, i všechno prvorozené z dobytka. 30Faraon v tu noc vstal, i všichni jeho dvořané a všichni Egypťané. V Egyptě nastal velký křik, protože nebylo domu, kde by se nenašel mrtvý. 31Faraon povolal v noci Mojžíše a Árona a řekl: „Seberte se a odejděte z mého lidu, vy i Izraelité. Jděte obětovat Hospodinu, jak jste žádali. 32Vezměte si i svůj brav a skot, jak jste žádali; jděte a požehnejte i mně.“ 33Egypťané nutili lid, aby si s odchodem ze země pospíšil, protože si říkali: „Všichni zemřeme!“ 34Lid tedy vzal své těsto, dříve než vy-kynulo, a díže zabalené do plášťů vložili na ramena. 35Izraelité jednali podle Mojžíšova příkazu a vyžádali si od Egypťanů předměty ze stříbra a ze zlata i oděvy. 36Hospodin zjednal lidu přízeň v očích Egypťanů a oni jim vyhověli. Tak Egypťany oloupili. 37Izraelité se dali na cestu z Raamsesu směrem na Sukkot. Bylo jich šest set tisíc pěších mužů, kromě jejich rodin. 38Táhl s nimi početný zástup Neizraelitů a početná stáda bravu a skotu. 39Z těsta, které odnesli z Egypta, upekli nekvašené placky, protože nevykynulo. Byli totiž z Egypta vyhnáni a nemohli se zdržovat a připravit si zásoby. 40Doba, po kterou přebývali Izraelité v Egyptě, trvala čtyři sta třicet let. 41Právě toho dne, kdy uplynulo čtyři sta třicet let, vyšly všechny Hospodinovy oddíly z egyptské země. 42Byla to noc bděni pro Hospodina, když je vyváděl z egyptské země. Tato noc je zasvěcená Hospodinu jako sváteční bdění závazné pro všechny Izraelity po všechna jejich pokolení. 43Hospodin řekl Mojžíšovi a Áronovi: „To je ustanovení pro svátek velikonočního beránka: Žádný cizinec z něho nebude jíst. 44Ale každý koupený otrok, bude-li obřezán, jej bude jíst. 45Přistěhovalec ani nádeník z něho nebudou jíst. 46Bude se jíst v témž domě. Z jeho masa nevyneseš nic ven a ani kost z něho nezlomíte. 47Celé společenství Izraele ať tak jedná! 48Jestliže bude u tebe bydlet přistěhovalec a bude chtít slavit Hospodinův svátek velikonočního beránka, ať se každý muž dá obřezat a pak bude smět přistoupit k jeho slavení a bude jako jeden z vás. Žádný neobřezanec však z něj jíst nesmí! 49Stejný zákon bude platit pro domorodce i pro přistěhovalce, který mezi vámi bydlí!“ 50Všichni Izraelité učinili, jak přikázal Hospodin Mojžíšovi a Áronovi; tak to učinili. 51Právě toho dne vyvedl Hospodin Izraelity po oddílech z egyptské země.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 The Lord makes all things new to those whom he delivers from the bondage of Satan, and takes to himself to be his people. The time when he does this is to them the beginning of a new life. God appointed that, on the night wherein they were to go out of Egypt, each family should kill a lamb, or that two or three families, if small, should kill one lamb. This lamb was to be eaten in the manner here directed, and the blood to be sprinkled on the door-posts, to mark the houses of the Israelites from those of the Egyptians. The angel of the Lord, when destroying the first-born of the Egyptians, would pass over the houses marked by the blood of the lamb: hence the name of this holy feast or ordinance. The passover was to be kept every year, both as a remembrance of Israel's preservation and deliverance out of Egypt, and as a remarkable type of Christ. Their safety and deliverance were not a reward of their own righteousness, but the gift of mercy. Of this they were reminded, and by this ordinance they were taught, that all blessings came to them through the shedding and sprinkling of blood. Observe, 1. The paschal lamb was typical. Christ is our passover,
1Cor 5:7. Christ is the Lamb of God,
John 1:29; often in the Revelation he is called the Lamb. It was to be in its prime; Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days, not when a babe at Bethlehem. It was to be without blemish; the Lord Jesus was a Lamb without spot: the judge who condemned Christ declared him innocent. It was to be set apart four days before, denoting the marking out of the Lord Jesus to be a Saviour, both in the purpose and in the promise. It was to be slain, and roasted with fire, denoting the painful sufferings of the Lord Jesus, even unto death, the death of the cross. The wrath of God is as fire, and Christ was made a curse for us. Not a bone of it must be broken, which was fulfilled in Christ,
John 19:33, denoting the unbroken strength of the Lord Jesus. 2. The sprinkling of the blood was typical. The blood of the lamb must be sprinkled, denoting the applying of the merits of Christ's death to our souls; we must receive the atonement,
Roma 5:11. Faith is the bunch of hyssop, by which we apply the promises, and the benefits of the blood of Christ laid up in them, to ourselves. It was to be sprinkled on the door-posts, denoting the open profession we are to make of faith in Christ. It was not to be sprinkled upon the threshold; which cautions us to take heed of trampling under foot the blood of the covenant. It is precious blood, and must be precious to us. The blood, thus sprinkled, was a means of preserving the Israelites from the destroying angel, who had nothing to do where the blood was. The blood of Christ is the believer's protection from the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell,
Roma 8:1. 3. The solemn eating of the lamb was typical of our gospel duty to Christ. The paschal lamb was not to be looked upon only, but to be fed upon. So we must by faith make Christ our own; and we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment from him, as from our food, see
John 6:53,
John 6:55. It was all to be eaten; those who by faith feed upon Christ, must feed upon a whole Christ; they must take Christ and his yoke, Christ and his cross, as well as Christ and his crown. It was to be eaten at once, not put by till morning. To-day Christ is offered, and is to be accepted while it is called to-day, before we sleep the sleep of death. It was to be eaten with bitter herbs, in remembrance of the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt; we must feed upon Christ with sorrow and brokenness of heart, in remembrance of sin. Christ will be sweet to us, if sin be bitter. It was to be eaten standing, with their staves in their hands, as being ready to depart. When we feed upon Christ by faith, we must forsake the rule and the dominion of sin; sit loose to the world, and every thing in it; forsake all for Christ, and reckon it no bad bargain,
Hebre 13:13,
Hebre 13:14. 4. The feast of unleavened bread was typical of the Christian life,
1Cor 5:7,
1Cor 5:8. Having received Christ Jesus the Lord, we must continually delight ourselves in Christ Jesus. No manner of work must be done, that is, no care admitted and indulged, which does not agree with, or would lessen this holy joy. The Jews were very strict as to the passover, so that no leaven should be found in their houses. It must be a feast kept in charity, without the leaven of malice; and in sincerity, without the leaven of hypocrisy. It was by an ordinance for ever; so long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ, rejoicing in him always, with thankful mention of the great things he has done for us.
21 That night, when the first-born were to be destroyed, no Israelite must stir out of doors till called to march out of Egypt. Their safety was owing to the blood of sprinkling. If they put themselves from under the protection of that, it was at their peril. They must stay within, to wait for the salvation of the Lord; it is good to do so. In after-times they should carefully teach their children the meaning of this service. It is good for children to ask about the things of God; they that ask for the way will find it. The keeping of this solemnity every year was, 1. To look backward, that they might remember what great things God had done for them and their fathers. Old mercies, to ourselves, or to our fathers, must not be forgotten, that God may be praised, and our faith in him encouraged. 2. It was designed to look forward, as an earnest of the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the fulness of time. Christ our passover was sacrificed for us; his death was our life.
29 The Egyptians had been for three days and nights kept in anxiety and horror by the darkness; now their rest is broken by a far more terrible calamity. The plague struck their first-born, the joy and hope of their families. They had slain the Hebrews' children, now God slew theirs. It reached from the throne to the dungeon: prince and peasant stand upon the same level before God's judgments. The destroying angel entered every dwelling unmarked with blood, as the messenger of woe. He did his dreadful errand, leaving not a house in which there was not one dead. Imagine then the cry that rang through the land of Egypt, the long, loud shriek of agony that burst from every dwelling. It will be thus in that dreadful hour when the Son of man shall visit sinners with the last judgment. God's sons, his first-born, were now released. Men had better come to God's terms at first, for he will never come to theirs. Now Pharaoh's pride is abased, and he yields. God's word will stand; we get nothing by disputing, or delaying to submit. In this terror the Egyptians would purchase the favour and the speedy departure of Israel. Thus the Lord took care that their hard-earned wages should be paid, and the people provided for their journey.
37 The children of Israel set forward without delay. A mixed multitude went with them. Some, perhaps, willing to leave their country, laid waste by plagues; others, out of curiosity; perhaps a few out of love to them and their religion. But there were always those among the Israelites who were not Israelites. Thus there are still hypocrites in the church. This great event was 430 years from the promise made to Abraham: see
Galat 3:17. So long the promise of a settlement was unfulfilled. But though God's promises are not performed quickly, they will be, in their season. This is that night of the Lord, that remarkable night, to be celebrated in all generations. The great things God does for his people, are to be not only a few days' wonder, but to be remembered throughout all ages; especially the work of our redemption by Christ. This first passover-night was a night of the Lord, much to be observed; but the last passover-night, in which Christ was betrayed and in which the first passover, with the rest of the Jewish ceremonies, was done away, was a night of the Lord, much more to be observed. Then a yoke, heavier than that of Egypt, was broken from off our necks, and a land, better than that of Canaan, set before us. It was a redemption to be celebrated in heaven, for ever and ever.
43 In times to come, all the congregation of Israel must keep the passover. All that share in God's mercies should join in thankful praises for them. The New Testament passover, the Lord's supper, ought not to be neglected by any. Strangers, if circumcised, might eat of the passover. Here is an early indication of favour to the gentiles. This taught the Jews that their being a nation favoured by God, entitled them to their privileges, not their descent from Abraham. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us,
1Cor 5:7; his blood is the only ransom for our souls; without the shedding of it there is no remission; without the sprinkling of it there can be no salvation. Have we, by faith in him, sheltered our souls from deserved vengeance under the protection of his atoning blood? Do we keep close to him, constantly depending upon him? Do we so profess our faith in the Redeemer, and our obligations to him, that all who pass by may know to whom we belong? Do we stand prepared for his service, ready to walk in his ways, and to separate ourselves from his enemies? These are questions of vast importance to the soul; may the Lord direct our consciences honestly to answer them.